Written Answers Wednesday 8 September 2010

Scottish Executive

Council Tax

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what conditions need to be fulfilled for a student to be exempt from paying council tax.

John Swinney: The qualifying conditions for a student to be exempt from paying council tax are contained within The Local Government Finance Act 1992, and associated regulations. A summary can be found in the Scottish Government’s publication Council Tax in Scotland: A Guide for Students which can be obtained via the following link www.scotland.gov.uk/library3/localgov/ctst-00.asp .

Council Tax

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what legislation applies to student exemption from council tax.

John Swinney: The legislation governing student exemption from council tax is contained within The Local Government Finance Act 1992, and associated regulations.

Employment

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will roll out an integrated employment and skills service.

Keith Brown: As of the end of August, the integrated employment and skills service, involving closer working between Jobcentre Plus and Skills Development Scotland, has been rolled out to all Jobcentres in Scotland.

Freedom of Information

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its recent case against the Scottish Information Commissioner not reaching court, what the cost was of its action regarding the commissioner’s right to see Scottish Government documents.

Bruce Crawford: The cost to the Scottish Government of legal advice in connection with this appeal against an information notice served by the Scottish Information Commissioner amounted to £37,195.24.

  Recipients of an information notice served on them by the Scottish Information Commissioner have a right of appeal to the Court of Session. In this case, the commissioner came to an agreement with the Scottish Government and withdrew his information notice. Consequently, the appeal did not proceed.

Further and Higher Education

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35088 by Keith Brown on 27 July 2010, whether it will consider asking the Scottish Funding Council to look at university and college mergers to help achieve savings.

Keith Brown: In ministerial guidance issued to the Scottish Funding Council on 25 February 2010 we asked the council to maintain its focus on making efficiencies. While the council has no powers to direct universities or colleges to merge, our guidance made clear that we expect the council to seek efficiencies in both its core funding for institutions and through strategic interventions. Where the council considers that the resources it distributes might deliver greater benefit through merged institutions, we would expect the council to engage appropriately with those institutions.

Justice

Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Justice was last briefed on the health condition of Mr Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi.

Kenny MacAskill: Officials forward to me a copy of the monthly medical report, which they receive from East Renfrewshire Council. The most recent report was sent to me on 2 September 2010.

Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether individuals can lose access rights as set out under the terms of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.

Roseanna Cunningham: Yes.

  It is a condition under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 that access rights are only available if those taking access act responsibly. Guidance on what constitutes responsible access is set out in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

  An individual who does not exercise access rights responsibly can be asked to modify their behaviour and, if irresponsible behaviour continues, be asked to leave the land. If irresponsible behaviour persists for a period of time, an interdict could be sought against the individual.

Lifelong Learning

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many economically active people in Dundee in each of the last three years (a) were qualified at level (i) NVQ4 and above, (ii) NVQ3, (iii) NVQ2 and (iv) NVQ1, (b) had another qualification or (c) were on a trade apprenticeship, also expressed as a percentage, and how this compares with the figures for Scotland.

Keith Brown: The Annual Population Survey (APS) is the official source for data on people who are economically active. Table 1 shows the latest estimates from the APS, covering each year since 2007, of the number of economically active people in Dundee City Council of working age (16 to 64 for males and 16 to 59 for females) by level of qualification. Table 2 shows the same for Scotland. Table 3 shows the latest estimates from the APS, covering each year since 2007, of the number of economically active people in Dundee City Council of working age (16 to 64 for males and 16 to 59 for females) who have completed a trade apprenticeship. Table 4 shows the same for Scotland.

  Table 1: Economically Active Working Age people by Highest NVQ Level, Dundee City Council, 2007-09, Dundee City

  

 
 
NVQ4 and above
NVQ3 and equivalent
NVQ2 and equivalent


Level
Rate (%)
Level
Rate (%)
Level
Rate (%)


2007
27,000
39.5%
17,200
25.1%
11,100
16.2%


2008
25,900
38.6%
18,700
27.9%
9,900
14.7%


2009
26,400
39.0%
17,800
26.3%
10,500
15.5%


 
 
NVQ1 and equivalent
No Qualifications
Other Qualification


Level
Rate (%)
Level
Rate (%)
Level
Rate (%)


2007
*
*
*
*
4,400
6.4%


2008
*
*
*
*
4,300
6.4%


2009
*
*
*
*
5,100
7.5%



  Source: Annual Population Survey, January – December.

  Notes:

  1. Levels are rounded to the nearest 100.

  2. * figures have been suppressed as levels lie below the reliability threshold.

  3. Rates refer to the proportion of economically active people whose highest qualification is at the level specified.

  Table 2: Economically Active Working Age people by Highest NVQ Level, Scotland,  2007-09, Scotland

  

 
 
NVQ4 and above
NVQ3 and equivalent
NVQ2 and equivalent


Level
Rate (%)
Level
Rate (%)
Level
Rate (%)


2007
949,800
37.5%
694,900
27.4%
436,800
17.2%


2008
964,300
38.0%
706,400
27.8%
429,200
16.9%


2009
984,100
38.6%
681,100
26.7%
443,100
17.4%


 
NVQ1 and equivalent
No Qualifications
Other Qualification


 
Level
Rate (%)
Level
Rate (%)
Level
Rate (%)


2007
54,200
2.1%
240,200
9.5%
157,400
6.2%


2008
53,500
2.1%
222,300
8.7%
165,100
6.5%


2009
54,300
2.1%
218,300
8.6%
168,600
6.6%



  Source: Annual Population Survey, January - December

  Notes:

  1. Levels are rounded to the nearest hundred.

  2. * figures have been suppressed as levels lie below the reliability threshold.

  3. Rates refer to the proportion of economically active people whose highest qualification is at the level specified.

  Table 3: Economically Active Working Age People who have Completed a Trade Apprenticeship, Dundee City Council, 2007-09

  

 
 
Trade Apprenticeship


Level
Rate (%)


2007
8,700
12.8%


2008
9,500
14.2%


2009
8,600
12.8%



  Source: Annual Population Survey, January to December.

  Notes:

  1. Levels are rounded to the nearest 100.

  2. Rates refer to the proportion of economically active people who have completed a trade apprenticeship.

  Table 4: Economically Active Working Age People who have Completed a Trade Apprenticeship, Scotland, 2007-09

  

 
 
Trade Apprenticeship


Level
Rate (%)


2007
368,900
14.7%


2008
369,300
14.7%


2009
350,800
13.9%



  Source: Annual Population Survey, January to December.

  Notes:

  1. Levels are rounded to the nearest hundred.

  2. Rates refer to the proportion of economically active people who have completed a trade apprenticeship.

Medical Negligence

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many clinical negligence claims have been made against the NHS relating to pressure ulcers or sores in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board; in how many of these cases was the NHS found guilty of clinical negligence, and how much compensation was paid in each case.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Board
2009-10
2008-09
2007-08
2006-07
2005-06


NHS Dumfries and Galloway
 
 
 
 
1


NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
3
1
1
 
1


NHS Highland
 
 
1
 
 


NHS Lanarkshire
 
 
1
 
 


NHS Tayside
 
 
1*
 
 



  Data provided by Central Legal Office. The data may not be comprehensive due to the classification of the complaint.

  Notes:

  All other NHS boards have not had a claim made against them specifically relating to pressure ulcers or sores.

  *In one case payment of £20,560.66 was made by the board in relation to pressure sores. The board paid the sum as damages for alleged negligence - the total includes the award to the claimant and his legal expenses. In civil claims, as in this instance, guilt does not arise - it only arises in criminal proceedings where the Procurator Fiscal charges you with an offence. No other payments have been made by NHS boards in respect of pressure ulcers or sores.

  No other payments have been made by NHS boards

Rail Network

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how the proposed replacement of almost all electric trains by diesel units on the line between Edinburgh and Glasgow Central via Carstairs will impact on its aim of significantly decarbonising Scotland’s public transport.

Stewart Stevenson: The decision to replace the majority of East Coast services between Glasgow and Edinburgh with services operated by Arriva Cross Country is directed by the Department for Transport.

  Further to this, the decision is to replace some of the most energy efficient electric trains on the UK network with some of the most polluting diesel trains, as measured by CO2 per passenger kilometre.

  It is unclear at this stage what the environmental impact of these changes will be. However, these services account for only a very small percentage of overall train movements in Scotland. In the context of published figures showing that rail transport accounts for less than 1% of overall emissions in Scotland, I see that the transfer from electric to diesel rolling stock over this route could only have a marginal impact on our plans for decarbonising public transport.

  It is important to emphasise that regardless of power source, rail remains the most environmentally sustainable mode of powered transport. This is why we are working to encourage modal shift to rail from more polluting modes of transport.

Scottish Water

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many subcontractors have been employed by Scottish Water since May 2006.

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total value is of all subcontracted operations led by Scottish Water since May 2006.

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the subcontractors currently employed by Scottish Water.

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the individual contract value figure has been for each subcontractor procured by Scottish Water, since May 2006.

John Swinney: This information is not held centrally and I have asked the Chief Executive of Scottish Water to reply to you.

Waste Management

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what public events organised by Waste Aware Scotland have taken place in the last 12 months and what the (a) cost and (b) attendance was in each case.

Richard Lochhead: The following table lists the public events organised by Waste Aware Scotland from August 2009 to 29   January 2010 when it became a part of Zero Waste Scotland. The tables includes costs and attendance or interactions at the events.

  

Event
Campaign
Dates
Interactions/Attendance
Cost


Glasgow Buchanan Galleries stall, as part of European Week for Waste Reduction 2009
Furniture Reuse
12-13-14 September 2009
1,300
Free


Dundee Overgate shopping centre stall
Love Food Hate Waste
25 November 2009
800
£544


Dundee University Accommodation Fayre
Furniture Reuse
22 January 2010
750
£288


Glasgow Braehead Shopping Centre stall
Furniture Reuse
23 January 2010
1,000
£100


Total:
3,850
£932

Waste Management

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what public events organised by Zero Waste Scotland have taken place in the last six months and what the (a) cost and (b) attendance was in each case.

Richard Lochhead: The following table lists the events organised by Zero Waste Scotland in the last six months, including costs and attendance or interactions at the events.

  

Event
Campaign
Date
Interactions/Attendance
Cost


Behaviour change for a More Sustainable Business (Edinburgh)
Business Resource Efficiency
16 February 2010
60
£4,400


Journey through Zero Waste (Aberdeen)
Business Resource Efficiency
18 February 2010
60
£1,400


Progressing your Environmental Management System (Glasgow)
Business Resource Efficiency
25 May 2010
68
£4,400


The True Cost of Water (Edinburgh)
Business Resource Efficiency
02 June 2010
56
£3,700


Behaviour Change for a More Sustainable Business (Dundee)
Business Resource Efficiency
22 June 2010
61
£4,800


Synergy Workshop (Cumbernauld)
Industrial symbiosis
23 June 2010
62
£1,630


Total
367
£20,330

Waste Management

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the public events organised by Waste Aware Scotland represent an effective means of public engagement.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government considers the events organised by the former Waste Aware Scotland programme to have been an effective means of public engagement.

Waste Management

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the public events organised by Waste Aware Scotland represent good value for money.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government considers the public events organised by Waste Aware Scotland to have represented good value for money.

Waste Management

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the public events organised by Zero Waste Scotland represent an effective means of public engagement.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government considers the events organised by Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS) to be both an effective means of public engagement and cost effective. ZWS includes elements of the former Waste Aware Scotland programme, and has built upon its successes. The ZWS programme also benefits from synergies between the work of Waste Aware Scotland and that of the other programmes unified under the ZWS banner.

Waste Management

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the public events organised by Zero Waste Scotland represent good value for money.

Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35656 on 8 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Wildlife

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any objections, or issues raised, by consultees to the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill consultation regarding the previous recommendation by the Deer Commission Scotland that a duty of sustainable deer management should be placed on individual land managers as opposed to the recommendation by the Scottish Government that this duty should apply to public bodies.

Roseanna Cunningham: Following the formal consultation, we received written representations from one organisation in support of the recommendation from the Deer Commission that a duty of sustainable deer management should be placed on individual land managers. The issue has also been discussed in meetings with a number of stakeholders where support has been expressed both for the Deer Commission recommendation and for the proposals in the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill.

Young People

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made on delivering the More Choices, More Chances strategy and what objectives are outstanding.

Keith Brown: More Choices More Chances continues to be a high priority which is why we have the national indicator on positive and sustained school leaver destinations.

  Action by this government is ensuring all young Scots have the training and support they need to gain employment. We have delivered more than 20,000 modern apprenticeships; supported 7,500 additional university places and more than 4,000 additional college places. We are rolling-out 16+ Learning Choices by December 2010 to ensure an offer of a place in post-16 learning or training for every young person in Scotland. We are also piloting Activity Agreements in 10 local authority areas, offering tailored packages of learning and support for our most vulnerable 16 and 17-year-olds.